In the fifth chapter of The Hobbit, HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO AWESOME. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read The Hobbit.
CHAPTER FIVE: RIDDLES IN THE DARK
Oh SHIT YEAH, THIS SHIT IS BOSS. This shit right here? Sweet fucking christ, this chapter takes all other chapters, throat punches them, then drops them off a cliff to be eaten by gargoyles and doesn’t even break a sweat.
You see that Bilbo Baggins? He’s a fucking riddle genius, and he takes those fucking logical tricks, and he makes them cry and wish they were never born. But I’m getting ahead of myself because I am impatient and I just want to high five the shit out of Bilbo. Not literally, I mean, because that would be gross. I don’t even know if hobbits can poop, but now I’m treading into crackfic territory and I’ve got some badassery we need to discuss.
Basically, chapter five takes all of the silliness and weirdness of the first four chapters of The Hobbit and J.R.R. Tolkien makes you want to wet the bed with fear. He’s like, “Hey, assholes, y’all are gonna need to wipe your memories after this fucking chapter because I just gave you nightmare fuel to last a couple centuries.” And this fucking book was written in 1937 and basically Tolkien could tell the future and shit or something, because how else would he know that I am terrified of being in small, cramped, and dark spaces? That’s right, I’m the last person on planet Earth to read The Hobbit and I’m stating that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote it specifically for me. DEAL WITH IT.
So Bilbo wakes up from being knocked out and shit and he’s crawling around in a dark ass cave and there’s no one there, and all he finds is a tiny ring in the room, and shit is goddamn fucked up. And it’s made even more frightening because Gandalf doesn’t catwalk into the cave being all fabulous and saving the day. Bilbo’s on his own, and this shit is fucking scary as fuck.
But he takes the elvish blade he had stolen from one of the trolls earlier in the book, and he just sucks it up and decides to throw up a middle finger to the cave and just find a way out. He straight-up doesn’t give a fuck. Well, actually, he gives quite a few fucks because he’s a frightened little hobbit, but that’s Bilbo for you. He’s afraid and he keeps going anyway. Someone elect him as president immediately.
So fucking Bilbo Baggins is just a badass and he crawls his way through the network of tunnels like some kind of Middle Earth Clint Eastwood or something, only without a pistol. Or a cowboy hat. Or music from Ennio Morricone playing in the background. Or the same fearless attitude. Whatever, he’s awesome, no one else is. The end. So he’s crawling through this cave with his blade out, ready to gut the fuck out of some goblins, when he stumbles onto a giant body of water. And it’s dark as hell in this place, and in just a few paragraphs, Tolkien makes The Exorcist seem like a children’s fairytale about cotton candy and unicorns. BECAUSE GOLLUM.
GOLLUM. WHAT THE HOLY FUCK IS THIS THING. THE NARRATOR IS SO FREAKED OUT BY THIS THING THAT THEY CANNOT EVEN DESCRIBE IT PROPERLY. Dude’s got a boat, and….wait, I can’t even call Gollum dude, can I? Well, I guess Tolkien uses manly pronouns and shit, so whatever. GOLLUM IS CREEPY AS FUCK. He blends in with the darkness “except for two big round pale eyes in his thin face.” WHAT THE HELL. Is he like those scary ass fish you find deep underwater that have like flashlights growing out of their head or those other creatures that look like creations of H.P. Lovecraft? This is how I am imagining him. Because the dude paddles a boat by dangling his feet over the side. I am never going to be okay with this in any universe WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS.
oh my god the way this son of a motherless bumblebee talks. oh my god. Remember when I thought Dobby annoyed me the first time I met him during Harry Potter? This is not that. This terrifies me. IT IS CREEPY AND I DO LIKE IT AND WHY IS HE A PRECIOUS that seems like an inside joke I do not want to discover the meaning of AMIRITE. And Gollum eats the fuck out of other creatures, especially fish and goblins, and now he’s looking upon the very first hobbit he’s ever seen and he sneaks up on Biblo and this shit is scary, all right? I don’t need you judging me. none allowed.
Oh, but Gollum isn’t comfortable just creeping out Bilbo and threatening to eat him. He forces Bilbo into a RIDDLE WAR. Which…yes, is just as ridiculous as it sounds, but HONESTLY IT WORKS REALLY WELL. Especially since I would have died in the first round because I AM NOT AT ALL FAMILIAR WITH RIDDLES AT ALL. The trade riddles back and forth, Bilbo knowing that one wrong answer means he GETS EATEN. NO PRESSURE AT ALL, THOUGH. Just your life on the line! But Tolkien had already established that hobbits, Bilbo in particular, are pretty damn crafty and clever, so this is what rapidly and exponentially increases how unbearably intense this is.
SHIT JUST KEEPS GETTING REAL, Y’ALL.
Oh, and in the midst of all this? Tolkien reveals that Gollum used to live aboveground. In a hole. By a river. WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER. how how how how is that a thing that happened. Are there Mama Gollum and Papa Gollum? WHAT IS THIS THING.
When both characters are nearly stumped to death, Biblo, that clever son of a llama, decides to trick Gollum. SORT OF. I don’t know? Does this count? It’s not really a riddle, but it STILL COUNTS, I would say. But Bilbo poses the final riddle of the game? What’s he holding in his pocket? We, of course, know it’s that tiny ring in his pocket, but Gollum thinks it’s a trick, and never guesses correctly. SO BILBO WINS SHIT YEAH, which means that Gollum has to help Bilbo finds his way out. WHY CAN’T OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT BE RUN WITH RIDDLES. oh god wouldn’t that be perfect I’M PRETTY SURE IT WOULD.
So Gollum prepares to help Bilbo get back up to the surface, and by that, I mean that he goes off on his own back to his slimy rock in the middle of the lack to retrieve “something” that will assist in their journey. And by that, I mean that Gollum actually had no intention to come back to Bilbo because he had something that would totally screw Bilbo over:
He wanted it because it was a ring of power, and if you slipped that ring on your finger, you were invisible; only in the full sunlight could you be seen, and then only by your shadow, and that would be shaky and faint.
OH. OH. OH MY GOD WHAT THE FUCK. Oh my god does this mean that Gollum is the lord of the ring? GET IT DO YOU GET IT oh god I’m pretty sure I’m the millionth person ever to make that joke. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME CUT ME SOME SLACK, GODDAMN IT. So Gollum is going to just disappear on Bilbo, but Bilbo has the ring, and in despair over losing it, Gollum creates a goddamn scene down on that lake, so much so that Bilbo actually becomes concerned for the welfare of this creature. But sweet summer child, y’all, when Gollum realizes that Bilbo has the ring and his eyes start changing colors, and he is paddling with his goddamn feet in that boat and Bilbo is running and tripping HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS my poor heart oh my god.
BUT THEN BILBO PUTS THE RING ON SHIT YEAH WHAT A BADASS. And this chapter turns into UNBEARABLE TENSION as Gollum tries to find Bilbo, who realizes that Gollum is arguing with himself about where Bilbo went. OH GOD SO CREEPY. Gollum basically surmises that Bilbo came down here on purpose to steal the ring, so Bilbo must know the way out. So Bilbo, who brilliantly realizes what is about to happen, follows Gollum the entire way to the final passageway that leads out of this dark, dank place. DUDE IS A CLEVER SHIT, RIGHT? WHAT A GOOD PLAN. But then Gollum, in a state of despair, frightened by the prospect of leaving his cave and being seen by the goblins, sits down in the entrance to the exit passage and blocks Bilbo’s way. GODDAMN IT. Bilbo wonders whether he should just kill Gollum and move on, but then Tolkien drops this in the middle of everything:
No, not a fair fight. He was invisible now. Gollum had no sword. Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him, or tried to yet. And he was miserable, alone, lost. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering. All these thoughts passed in a flash of a second. he trembled.
YEAH, GOOD GOD, THIS IS DEPRESSING. Oh god, Bilbo is FULL OF EMPATHY. And so Bilbo decides not to kill Gollum, instead choosing to JUMP OVER HIM and escape from him that way, hearing Gollum’s shrieks of despair and hatred getting quieter and further away. WELL, THAT’S NOT SAD OR UPSETTING AT ALL.
Oh, right, and then Bilbo follows the passage RIGHT OUT INTO AN ENTIRE ROOM FULL OF GOBLINS. Oh, and SUNLIGHT FALLS ON HIM and somehow, HE ISN’T WEARING THE RING, so THEY ALL SEE HIM. Oh, Bilbo, THIS IS A DISASTER. SOMEONE CALL THE COPS. THIS IS TOO TENSE FOR LAW.
He does manage to slip the ring on, and y’all, this shit is fucking real. I cannot imagine how I would survive both being invisible and having to move about to not give away my physical location from a bunch of goblins streaming out of the room to look for me. But Bilbo does it. HE IS A BOSS. No, he is the boss I AM TAKING THAT FROM YOU SPRINGSTEEN. Just kidding, you are forever the Boss in my heart, sir.
Anyway, I, like Bilbo, had forgotten that sunlight casts a shadow on a person wearing the ring. Well, actually, Bilbo doesn’t even know how this shit works yet. STILL. Our little hobbit spies a door to the outside slightly open, nearly enough for him to squeeze through, so Bilbo goes for it. BUT IT’S NOT OPEN WIDE ENOUGH AND HE ISN’T ABLE TO SQUEEZE THROUGH AND THEN THE GOBLINS SEE HIS GODDAMN SHADOW oh god how is this real and how was this written like 75 years ago oh god
But Bilbo escapes, just at the last minute, because the dude is a badass. And this chapter is badass. And I don’t think it’s going to get any less fucked up at this point because THERE ARE STILL FOURTEEN CHAPTERS LEFT. oh god what is this book.
I'd forgotten this chapter comes so early. It also has Tolkien's most famous revision which I won't mention because spoilers.
Wait, what? I want to know! rot13?
Gbyxvra'f bevtvany puncgre, choyvfurq va 1937, unf Ovyob jvaavat gur evat snveyl sebz Tbyyhz nf cneg bs n org ba gur evqqyrf naq gura Tbyyhz yrnqf Ovyob bhg bs gur pnirf avpryl.
Ohg orpnhfr gur Uboovg be Gurer naq Onpx Ntnva vf na va-havirefr obbx pnyyrq gur Erq Obbx bs Jrfgznepu jevggra ol Ovyob Onttvaf, vg jnf erirnyrq gung Ovyob nygrerq gur raqvat bs gung puncgre, n irel hapunenpgrevfgvp zbir ol na bgurejvfr ubarfg uboovg, va beqre gb znxr uvzfrys frrz zber urebvp naq gb pbaprny gur gehr bevtva bs gur evat.
Fb juvyr ur jnf jevgvat YBGE, Gbyxvra nyfb qerj hc n arj puncgre naq jura gur Uboovg jnf ercevagrq, vg vapyhqrq gur arj cntrf vafgrnq bs gur byq bar, naq n abgr va gur sbejneq nobhg gur fhofgvghgvba.
Va gur bevtvany cevagvat, Ovyob jba gur evat sebz Tbyyhz va gur tnzr bs evqqyrf, naq gung'f gur fgbel ur gryyf gur qjnesf va gur arkg puncgre. Ohg jura Ovyob choyvfurq uvf obbx Tnaqnys xarj gung jnf n yvr, fvapr ur jnf fgnegvat gb svther bhg jung gur evat jnf naq gur xvaq bs ubyq vg pna unir bire n crefba. Fb ur pbasebagrq Ovyob naq pbaivaprq uvz gb pbzr pyrna naq gur erpbeq gur erny gnyr bs ubj ur pnzr ol gur evat. Va gur frpbaq cevagvat, Ovyob hcqngrq guvf puncgre gb ersyrpg gur gehr fgbel.
This site has a nice comparison of the original text and the revision, side by side:
Clicky (obviously, there be spoilers)
Yes! This chapter was a highlight of my childhood; the wordplay of the riddles and the awesomeness of Bilbo's escape are forever seared on my brain.
Oh, and Gollum is in there too; to this day I'll be, like, rooting round in the fridge and randomly say "Eggses! Eggses, it is!" in that gravelly voice like a total dork. So sue me.
This is my favorite chapter too. At least it is the only one that I vividly remember. It is so tense. I can't help but read it all the way through and not stop even for a second. Gollum is just so creepy.
There was a really amazing picture of Gollum in my Russian edition. I hope I can actually manage to post it here.
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cSBnYVOkjRY/Tqh7iv5R1pI/AAAAAAAAAXI/b2EkCgsPfOc/s512/DSCN1070.JPG" alt="Gollum" border="1" height="300"/>
d'awww he looks like a Dr. Seuss character
Now imagining the Hobbit as done by Doctor Seuss….surprisingly, not that odd, at least compared to the version of Seuss-Cthulu I saw last week.
I totally have a link somewhere for LOTR as written by different authors, and one of them is Seuss. Obviously I can't quote any of them here until we get most of the way through LOTR, but I will when we get there!
Oh, hey, I found something that's not spoilery! It's not Seuss, but:
The Hobbit
By Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman
"What have I got in my pockets?" Bilbo asked
"Ssssss, 'tisn't fair. You must give me some guesses." Gollum said.
"Very well. Go ahead then."
"A watch,"
"No,"
"A candle,"
"No,"
"Keys?"
"No,"
"String,"
"No,"
"A fish?"
"Not as such."
"A knife."
"No,"
"Cuff links?"
"No,"
"Thumbtacks,"
"No,"
"A lump of cheese,"
"I did have, but the cat's eaten it."
"Did he?"
"She, sir."
"A ping-pong ball?"
"No,"
"A handful of filberts?"
"No,"
"Roll of duct tape?"
"No,"
"Feathers?"
"No,"
"Very small rocks?"
"Only on Thursdays. Actually, it's a…"
"No wait, I'm keen to guess. A gerbil?"
"No,"
"A blancmange?"
"No,"
"Shoelaces?"
"No,"
"An egg?"
"No,"
"A picture of Dwight Eisenhower?"
"No,"
"Two sheds?"
"No,"
"A bill?, A bow?"
"Yes?"
"Yess!?" Gollum leapt up. "Which is it, a bill or a bow?"
"Oh, I'm sorry I thought you were addressing me. That's my name, Bilbo."
"Chapstick?"
"No,"
"A pencil?"
"No,"
"Lint?"
"No,"
"After dinner mints?"
"No,"
"Vice-grips?"
"No,"
Gollum threw his slimy hands in the air. "Ach, sssssss. I gives up, I gives upsses. You win. What has it gots in its pocketses?"
"Oh, just the ring I found on the ground over there. It seems to turn one invisible." Bilbo said.
"AAAAIIIII! My Birthday Present! My Precious! Give it to me! I'll wring its neck. I'll eats it!."
Bilbo slid the ring on his finger as the foul creature reached for him and slipped away.
Comes from this page, which is super-spoilery for LOTR. Written by someone called "NicePete."
This is beautiful. The blancmange is my favorite bit.
I love the blancmange! Particularly because that sketch includes Mr. and Mrs. Dursley (who are incredibly ordinary) and a Harold Potter. But the whole thing is rather brilliant
Woah, that is a different-looking creature!
*waves* Hello fellow Russian-speaker!
This is how I was first introduced to The Hobbit as a child, and hence Gollum, and he scared the crap out of me as a kid.
Russian Hobbit! Awesomeness. I have Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Russian, also some Moomin books, but I came to LOTR after I'd been to Russia. I would love the Tolkien books in Russian.
;algk;jsdjf;afjf'as
There's the fanboy we all know and love!
I love the riddles in this chapter. They're probably my favorite part. I remember stopping after each one my first time through and trying to work them all out. And now I'm reminded of my very favorite riddle of all from Mirrormask: What's green, hangs on a wall, and whistles?
When Bilbo leapt over Gollum I had this image in my mind of Bilbo-as-Mario leaping over Gollum-as-Goomba. I mean, the dude's only 3 feet tall and he jumped 3 feet into the air and 7 feet forward. Dude has gravity defying skills.
Now you've got me imagining this scene with Bilbo and Gollum in Mario and Goomba form, and not just the jumping scene. haha…goombas.
Oh Gollum. I can't help but find him adorable. What's wrong with me? lol
he is kind of adorable! He just needs a friend who isn't a ring <3
Be, lbh xabj, bar ur jba'g fgenatyr sbe n Evat.
Unun, V xabj. V’z abg tbvat gb ibyhagrre zlfrys gb or uvf sevraq orpnhfr ur’q cebonoyl guebggyr zr nf V tb va sbe n uht
That made me laugh… I am a bad person…
Same thing that's wrong with me, I guess!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OH MY GOD I'M LAUGHING SO HARD THERE ARE TEARS. Best review ever Mark. You managed to swear in like every paragraph, you wondered if Hobbits shit or not, and omg that was awesome. Also, you are eternally unprepared, but you know that already.
Seriously though. Gollum is forever creepy as hell. Want illustrations to fuel your nightmares? Courtesy of Alan Lee this time
<img src="http://img-fan.theonering.net/middleearthtours/images/gollum_ald2.jpg">
<img src="http://www.fairiesworld.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/%C2%A9Alan_Lee_bilbo_and_gollum_The_Hobbit.jpg">
I am proud to say that I could figure out some of the riddles. I remember covering the next lines so as not to cheat and think about the answer. Of course, most of the times the tension got the better of me and I just had to keep reading, but still.
And Bilbo is the very best ever. I like to think that I wouldn't have killed Gollum either. Probably. But I know I wouldn't be able to jump over him without killing myself either, so I don't know.
Bottom line is BEST CHAPTER EVER.
Excellent illustrations. Gollum is creepy as hell.
Yes, those are pretty much how I see Gollum
Ah, I love how petrified Bilbo looks in the bottom one!
I love Alan Lee's illustrations of Gollum. So creepy. I didn't read The Hobbit until I was 17, so I can only imagine how a chapter like this one would have given me endless nightmares as a child. *shivers*
oh dear christ Alan Lee, you are the master of my nightmares. I don't even want to know what Gollum is eating there.
The only one that thoroughly stumped me was the "chesnuts" one, I was like, "Whaaaaa?" I don't think I've ever even seen a chestnut in my life, so I was like "I BARELY HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT."
But chestnuts wasn't the answer. just Bilbo saying that it was a common familiar one, from the phrase that old chestnut.
from a definitions website – An old chestnut is something that has been repeated so many times that it has lost its impact.
I LOVE THIS CHAPTER!! I'm terrible at riddles, though, so good thing I'm not Bilbo.
someone had better post a picture of Gollum from the Rankin-Bass animation <3
Here…
<img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo107/kristelholly/Gollum.jpg">
Child!me is crying now, thanks.
Actually, I recently rewatched this version, and Gollum still stands out as scary as fuck, even to adult!me. Gah.
OMG one of my favorite chapters! I think I used to go around telling the riddles to people when I was like 7, and they thought I was weird :/
Also: Ynhtuvat fb uneq ng gur TBYYHZ VF GUR YBEQ BS GUR EVAT. Hahaha.
unununun V XABBBBBJ UR UNF AB VQRN
SO UNPREPARED.
Vs ur bayl xarj!
Nunun lrnu jura Znex fnvq gung vg znqr zr ynhtu fb uneq! Znex vf fb abg cercnerq sbe YbgE. V pna'g jnvg gb frr uvf ernpgvba jura ur svaqf bhg jung gung evat ernyyl vf, naq ubj vg cynlf vagb YbgE.
V erzrzore zl urnq rkcybqvat ng gung erirny. V jnf fher gur evat jbhyq or fbzrguvat Ovyob sbhaq va Fznht'f ubneq, abg n gevaxrg sebz gur svsgu puncgre. Znex'f ernpgvba fubhyq or cerggl tbbq.
Bu lrnu, ol gur raq bs gur fgbel vg'f cebonoyl fbzrguvat rnfvyl sbetbggra be qvfzvffrq, naq V pna'g frrz gb erzrzore ubj zhpu gur evat vf zragvbarq va gur erfg bs guvf obbx. Vs vg'f abg bireyl zragvbarq va guvf obbx gura V xabj uvf urnq vf tbvat gb rkcybqr jura ur pbzrf gb gung erirny, naq rfcrpvnyyl jura ur yrneaf nobhg gur evat'f onpxtebhaq…ubj vg jnf znqr naq jung vgf checbfr vf.
Bu zl tbfu lrf. Jura V sbhaq bhg V jnf yvxr *JUN?! Oenva rkcybfvba!* V jnag gb frr perrcrq bhg tvsf naq fghss gubhtu *guvf vf n arprffvgl*
I love this chapter, too! I think it is by far the strongest chapter yet, and I think it is probably one of the most well-known scenes in the Hobbit. Seriously, Gollum is so intensely creepy– and yet he's also a more complex kind of 'villain', as you get those little innocent snippets of his life story (as he's considering eating Bilbo O.O).
Honestly, this review frightened me at first. I wasn't sure if Mark actually liked the chapter, or if he was being sarcastic. But yeah, Bilbo is a badass of a very logical and non-murderous variety.
Yeah, those bits about Gollum's past definitely help add more layers to him, unlike the goblins that seem to be evil just because they are. It makes us wonder how he got to this place, so alone, and even sparks some empathy for him at certain points. Even Bilbo, with the threat of being killed by Gollum, decides not to kill the poor creature out of pity for him and his situation.
Don't worry, when he has a caps lock and swears every other sentence, if he says he likes something, he genuinely does.
Yeah, I was imagining really enthusiastic sarcasm… but I was pretty sure it was a genuine positive reaction by the end 🙂
I'm pretty sure Ravenclaws would also favor a system of government run on riddles.
This is a fantastic, creepy, brilliant chapter. I've read this book before, and could still only figure out about half the riddles. I would be Gollum food right about now if I had to face him in a riddle contest.
Bilbo could totally get into the Ravenclaw common room.
Though he may prefer to be a Hufflepuff, with the common room on the ground floor and right next to the kitchens…
And the round doors and tunnels. I love my common room.
"THIEF! THIEF! BAGGINS!!! WE HATES IT, WE HATES IT, WE HATES IT FOREVER!!!"
BAGGINS!!!
(sobs quietly for Gollum)
Vf vg jrveq gung V nyernql urne gurfr yvarf va Naql Frexvf'f ibvpr, qrfcvgr gur snpg gung ur unfa'g lrg fnvq gurz ba fperra?
Vf vg cbffvoyr gb unir frra gur zbivrf naq abg qb gung?
Ab, V qrsvavgryl qb gung, gbb.
Same here. <3
Vg'f vzcbffvoyr abg gb. Naql Frexvf vf nznmvat.
Oh god, Mark. Your review's expletive-laden flailing has totally made my morning. I had so hoped that you would like this book, specifically this chapter, because damn. And you don't disappoint! This chapter made you say variations on the word "fuck" nineteen times in your review, and variations on "shit" sixteen times (and five counts of "badass"), which all-in-all I think has to be some sort of record. ^__^
This was the chapter when, the first time I read this book, I finally became invested in what happened. Before this, I was just coasting, wondering (like all the dwarves) if Gandalf had been mistaken about the hidden depths of the hobbit. But that's Bilbo for you. Bilbo Baggins. Bravest little hobbit of them all. ^_^
I had just about got that Leonard Nimoy song out of my head…
You're welcome! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D *smug* ^_^
I'm doing the dance now, CURSE YOU.
And now I'm imagining Lord Voldemort (naq gur Jvgpu-xvat naq Fnheba, sbe gung znggre) being defeated by a good old-fashioned riddle-off. Though if his performance in front of the sphinx was any indicator, I guess Harry would have to have Hermione or even Ron do it for him?
A riddle-off to defeat Tom Riddle! Sorry, had to do it, running away now.
Pfft, it's a chapter full of riddles. What better time for puns?
Haha…that made me laugh so hard. Can you just imagine Deathly Hallows ending with Voldemort and Harry having a riddle battle? 🙂
haaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha. that would be lovely
Actually, speaking of Fnheba, ur unq n sevttva' ONGGYR BS FBATF jvgu Svaebq Srynthaq va gur Fvyznevyyvba, juvpu vf fghss bs cher njrfbzr. Bofreir:
Guhf orsryy gur pbagrfg bs Fnheba naq Srynthaq juvpu vf erabjarq. Sbe Srynthaq fgebir jvgu Fnheba va fbatf bs cbjre, nq gur cbjre bs gur Xvat jnf irel terng; ohg Fnheba unq gur znfgrel, nf vf gbyq va gur Ynl bs Yrvguvna:
Ur punagrq n fbat bs jvmneqel,
Bs cvrepvat, bcravat, bs gernpurel,
Erirnyvat, hapbirevat, orgenlvat.
Gura fhqqra Srynthaq gurer fjnlvat,
Fnat va n fbat bs fgnlvat,
Erfvfgvat, onggyvat ntnvafg cbjre,
Bs frpergf xrcg, fgeratgu yvxr n gbjre,
Naq gehfg haoebxra, serrqbz, rfpncr;
Bs punatvat naq fuvsgvat funcr,
Bs fanerf ryhqrq, oebxra gencf,
Gur cevfba bcravat, gur punva gung fancf.
Onpxjneqf naq sbejneqf fjnlrq gurve fbat.
Erryvat sbhaqrevat, nf rire zber fgebat
Gur punagvat fjryyrq, Srynthaq sbhtug,
Naq nyy gur zntvp naq zvtug ur oebhtug
Bs Ryirarffr vagb uvf jbeqf.
Fbsgyl va gur tybbz gurl urneq gur oveqf
Fvatvat nsne va Anetbguebaq,
Gur fvtugvat bs gur Frn orlbaq,
Orlbaq gur jrfgrea jbeyq, ba fnaq,
Ba fnaq bs crneyf ba Ryiraynaq.
Gura va gur qbbz tngurerq; qnexarff tebjvat
Va Inyvabe, gur erq oybbq sybjvat
Orfvqr gur Frn, jurer gur Abyqbe fyrj
Gur Sbnzevqref, naq fgrnyvat qerj
Gurve juvgr fuvcf jvgu gurve juvgr fnvyf
Sebz ynzcyvg uniraf. Gur jvaq jnvyf,
Gur jbys ubjyf. Gur eniraf syrr.
Gur vpr zhggref va gur zbhguf bs gur Frn.
Gur pncgvirf fnq va Natonaq zbhea.
Guhaqre ehzoyrf, gur sverf ohea-
Naq Svaebq sryy orsber gur guebar.
Gura Fnheba fgevccrq sebz gur gurve qvfthvfr, naq gurl fgbbq orsber uvz anxrq naq nsenvq. Ohg gubhtu gurve xvaqf jrer erirnyrq, Fnheba pbhyq abg qvfpbire gurve anzrf be gurve checbfrf.
V trg puvyyf rirel gvzr V ernq guvf cnffntr.
God I love that rhyme. (rime?)
Such mastery of pacing and sound, and the emotions pack a real punch.
Spoilers for The Silmarillion
SVAEBQ SRYNTHAQ! BU UBJ V PEVRQ LBHE QRNGU BZT UR JNF ZL SNIBHEVGR!
Zvar, gbb! Ur'f fb njrfbzr. Fhpu n onqnff. Evtug hc gurer jvgu Svatbysva.
Zl sni gbb. Ur jnf gur orfg bs gurz.
YAY! I was fanboying yesterday in preperation. Gollum is my all-time favorite character of this universe.
Also…
"Jung vf guvf guvat?" lbh fnl? Guvax nobhg vg, ur yvirq va n ubyr ol gur evire…V vzntvar vg jnf abg n fzryyl jrg ubyr abe n qel fnaql ubyr! Bu, V pna'g jnvg sbe lbh gb trg gb Sryybjfuvc naq unir GUNG yvggyr purfgahg penpxrq va lbhe snpr. Ojnunun!
I've never had a harder time keeping spoilers to myself, even during Harry Potter, to which I was constantly giving your reviews knowing glances and saying "Oh, how precious [[see what I did there?]], just wait until he gets to the next one." Of course, you were finished with them all by the time I found you, and this is just MADDENING!!!!
Gollum is an incredible character.
Naq nyfb, V svaq, n tbbq pbhagre-cbvag gb crbcyr jub guvax gung Gbyxvra jevgrf bar-abgr punenpgref. V zrna, ur gbbx gur perrcvrfg, fyvzvrfg perngher sebz gur Uboovg, naq tnir uvz fhpu n pbzcryyvat onpxfgbel gung rira gubhtu ur vf n ivyynva, ur erznvaf bar bs gur zbfg raqhevat naq havdhr punenpgref va snagnfl yvgrengher, rire.
Tbq oyrff gur cvgl bs Ovyob.
To your last sentence: HEAR, HEAR!
It really is one of the best moral choices in all of fantasy literature, ever.
Oh gosh, I know what you mean about keeping spoilers to yourself.
Jura Znex jnf yvxr 'svefg uboovg Tbyyhz unf rire frra' V cerggl zhpu lryyrq ng zl pbzchgre. Bu ab, qrsvavgryl abg gur svefg Uboovg Fzrntby unf frra! Ur vf n uboovg! Naq vs ur ngr Ovyob vs jbhyq or uboovg pnaavonyvfz! Naq Fzrntby'f genafsbezngvba synfuonpx guvat ng gur ortvaavat bs gur EbgX zbivr vf gur perrcvrfg guvat rire naq wxqsfxwsftutuxfwtxfwsf!!1!
BZT lrnu gung EbgX synfuonpx vf fhcre perrcl naq engure ubeevslvat… Svefg gur jnl ur zheqref gb trg gur evat, gura gur genafsbezngvba, naq fubg jvgu Tbyyhz ovgvat vagb gung svfu. htu, tvirf zr gur fuviref.
VXE? Gurer jrer fb znal cbvagf va uvf erivrj jurer V jnagrq gb fnl, njjj lbh'er fb hanjner naq hacercnerq sbe jung'f gb pbzr. Vg'f cerpvbhfffff… Un.
V'z fb nsenvq bs yrggvat fbzrguvat fyvc, V'ir orra ebg13vat dhvgr n srj pbzzragf…zbfgyl orpnhfr bs Znex'f terng ernpgvba gb guvf puncgre. Buu whfg lbh jnvg, Znex, whfg lbh jnvg.
EBG13 gur jubyr guvat orpnhfr V qba'g jnag gb rira vanqiregragyl fcbvy – ohg LRF. Zl tbbqarff. V unq abg nagvpvcngrq ubj uneq vg jnf tbvat gb or gb xrrc zl zbhgu mvccrq. Znex vf tbvat gb unir urnqfcybfvbaf tnyber gb frr jurer tbyyhz'f fgbel fgnegrq naq ubj vg jvyy pbagvahr va YBGE. V zrna… bu zl tbbqarff YBY!
I thought it was interesting that you mentioned Dobby, Mark. I read the Hobbit for the first and only time many years ago, before I read Harry Potter. And when Dobby was introduced in HP, my first thought was that I was vaguely reminded of Gollum!
Muah. Muahha. Muah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. GOLLUM. GOLLUM. Who used to live in a hole with his grandmother and who is CREEPY AS SHIT.
V qba'g xabj vs V jbhyq unir ernyvmrq Tbyyhz jnf bapr n uboovg vs V unqa'g ernq YBGE svefg, gb or gbgnyyl ubarfg. Gur ovt srrg naq yvivat va n ubyr ner boivbhfyl tvnag pyhrf, ohg V nz tvtnagvpnyyl qrafr.
V pna bayl vzntvar ubj zhpu Znex'f zvaq jvyy zryg jura ur svaqf bhg gung Tbyyhz jnf bapr n uboovg, naq ubj gur evat vf jung pnhfrq uvz gb punatr vagb jung ur vf abj. Fb hacercnerq.
V nz pbasvqragyl rkcrpgvat Znex gb unir n ernpgvba gb orng nyy ernpgvbaf jura ur ernyvfrf :Q
Mark, your OMGFLAILING just cheered me up immensely. Thank you thank you thank you.
My sister and I tend to use "hc hc hc hc gur fgnvef jr tb" and "xvyy gurz obgu" and "gb pngpu n svfu fb whvpl fjrrrrrrg" from time to time. 😀
Fvapr V nz vaperqvoyl cnyr naq zl rlrf ner irel yvtug frafvgvir V graq gb ohfg bhg "Jr ungrf gur lryybj snpr! Jr ungrf vg!" jura va qverpg fhayvtug.
I need to start using that one
haha my Bestie and I say that all the time. also, Gur lryybj snpr, vg oheaf hf, cerpvbhf!
When my husband and I are gaming together and one of us is lagging behind, the other will say, “Guvf jnl, uboovgfrf…”
I read your review as such high intensity, Mark. Like, you were basically yelling and flailing the whole time and just forgot to include some exclamation points.
I love this chapter though I'm sad to say I would have been eaten quite early on. The only answer I got right on this reread was "Fish." Sometimes I get the "Time" one, but not this morning. Let's assume that Gollum just gave me the "Fish" riddle over and over again and I survived, we still would have been stuck in that cave forever because here are what my riddles would have been like:
Q: What's black and white and red all over?
A: N arjfcncre be n crathva jvgu n fhaohea
Q: Where did the mommy and daddy ghost leave their baby ghost when they went haunting for the day?
A: Qnl fpner
So, yeah, we'd have either been stuck for ages or Gollum would've tried to attack me for such bad riddles/jokes.
Q: Why'd the turkey cross the road?
A: Gb cebir vg jnfa'g puvpxra
Why are riddles so much fun?
Ahahaha. Mine would be:
Q: How did the hipster burn his mouth?
A: Ur ngr gur cvmmn orsber vg jnf pbby.
Q: When's a door not a door?
A: Jura vg'f nwne!
Q: When's a car not a car?
A: Jura vg gheaf vagb n qevirjnl!
I'd be stuck on endless variations on the "Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?" one and then Gollum would get cheesed off and eat me anyway.
Ooooo! Riddles! I have two, and they are similar.
Q: What gets wetter as it dries?
A: N gbjry
Q: What gets bigger as you take away from it?
A: N ubyr
GOLLUM! I FUCKING LOVE GOLLUM. My mother read the Hobbit to me when I was 6/7 and Gollum has always been my favorite. I drew a ridiculous amount of terrible Gollum fanart as a child, which… well, I can only wonder what my teachers thought of the weird, bug-eyed creature skulking in my margins.
Full disclosure: I have not read The Hobbit. I tried, I really did. I really, really did.
When I was a senior in high school, I was working as a usher at the Children's Theater Company, and they did a production of The Hobbit, which was FANTASTIC. The scene with Gollum was one of the best- I remember there was black light involved to make Gollum's eyes go all creepy, and the actor was, among other things, a dancer, so she could bend in all these ways and basically seemed to teleport herself around the stage.
Good times!
That sounds awesome!
At my drama troupe, there was a guy who'd been in The Hobbit musical (Npghnyyl, vg jnf Ybeq bs gur Evatf, ohg V qba'g jnag gb fcbvy Znex ol fnlvat Tbyyhz ergheaf), and he had played Gollum. Once he did a presentation of his song, with me as the hobbit sitting in the middle. Creepy and brilliant as Hell.
That sounds AMAZING. I'd love to see something like that on stage so much!
Alright, this is COMPLETELY random, but I'm just wondering if anyone's doing NaNoWriMo this year? 😀
…or knows what it is?
I did it last year, but circumstances aren't right for me this year, sadly :(. Are you?
Indeed I am! 😀
My first year – heard about it for a while, decided I wanted to actually do something this year. Oddly enough, it's inspired by American Gods 😉
I tried last year, but I only got about three days into it before giving up. 😛 I'd like to do it again someday, but I don't think this year is the year. I'm trying to job-hunt at the moment so I have too many other obligations.
I am… should be interesting as I try to do 50k words and three different final papers/projects.
I've never done it, but good luck to you!
I am! 🙂 I've never won it yet, but I live in perpetual hope.
Oh the times I have tried NaNo and just…failed.
Yep. Going in for my 10th attempt.
I'm doing it for the first time.
I'm trying it again. I did it the last two years, but this year will be tougher, because I'm not as excited about my idea this time around.
Not this year, not confident enough in my writing speed/more important obligations, but I've been aware of it for 2-3 years and hopefully should be able to next year!
My first attempt this year!
This should be interesting, as I've never written beyond 3,000 words before. Ooooh boy.
Yup, I did it for the first time last year and got just over half way through. This year I don't have much of a plan, and not a lot of free time, so…we'll see how it goes! 😛
I am! I signed up for it during several months of unemployment, but then got a job (yay!) so now I am dubious as to whether I will be able to finish it, but it will be good for me to try, I think!
Whether I will do it this year remains to be seen – clinical depression and creativity do not go together for me, I flunked out last year but it's possible this year will be better. But YAY. And there should definitely be some sort of "MarkReads" thread.
Strangely enough, it is through nanowrimo that I discovered Mark Reads back in the Twlight days, someone posted the link on the NaNo boards 😀
This review had me laughing so hard I almost cried. Oh, Mark, I am so happy you liked this chapter because it is honestly one of my favorites.
Well, actually, he gives quite a few fucks because he’s a frightened little hobbit, but that’s Bilbo for you. He’s afraid and he keeps going anyway. Someone elect him as president immediately.
And then we can have a government system run by riddles where making sure everyone has tea, seedcakes, and second dinners is top priority. And who else thinks Bilbo would totally find a way to pull this off? I have complete faith in him.
The riddle about time never fails to give me the chills. It's just such a creepy and potent bit of writing, not to mention it's a little different from everything else Gollum asked.
Sidenote: "We hates it, we hates it, we hates it forever!" has been a byword in my household ever since we read this book, most often used about the Yankees (sorry, New Yorkers) or some kind of food the younger kids are in the process of refusing to eat. And I still use this line for about half my complaining. It sounds a lot more impressive than your standard whining.
Bilbo's government system sounds WONDERFUL. A seedcake in every pot!
on every plate? 😉 #pedanticbastard
Seconded on the hatred of Yankees forever.
The Yankees are, pretty much, gur Evat bs Cbjre. Vg'f gur bayl guvat gung rkcynvaf gurz. Jryy, gung naq tbof bs pnfu.
Bar Evat gb ehyr Znwbe Yrnthr Onfronyy, Bar Evat gb svaq nyy gur gbc serr ntragf,
Bar Evat gb cnl gurz nyy naq va gur qnexarff ovaq gurz
Va gur Ynaq bs gur Oebak jurer gur Funqbjf yvr.
THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. I now am going to start telling this to anyone who'll listen.
You win teh internetz!
MARK, OH MARK. This review is a thing of beauty. 😀 <3 <3
Ahahaha, Gollum ACTUALLY taught his grandmother to suck eggs. When I was a kid I had no idea this was a joke.
(It's an old saying meaning to teach someone about something they already know. Sort of the archaic version of 'splaining. From Wikipedia:
"You see, Grandmama, before you extract the contents of this bird's egg by suction, you must make an incision at one extremity, and a corresponding orifice at the other." Grandmama's response is to the effect, "Dearie me! And we used to just make a hole at each end.")
My roommate tried some of these riddles on me the other night to see if I remembered them. I got them all right, but that was probably because she knows them by heart and has asked me them before. 😛 I think I like the "time" one the best. It's very philosophical. Time defeats everything in the end. This too shall pass, etc.
Gollum should very well know that "What have I got in my pocket" is against the rules of the riddle game, and shouldn't have accepted it as a riddle. It's his own fault he lost, I'm just saying.
Poor Gollum. What a miserable existence, and I'm glad Bilbo realizes it and doesn't try to kill him.
Ahahaha, in my internet wanderings I found a version of The Hobbit cover that Tolkien reportedly hated. It's not spoilery, just UTTERLY RIDICULOUS: what even is this
Fun things gleaned from The Annotated Hobbit:
Tolkien "inevitably" wrote a mythology for Santa Claus. OF COURSE HE DID.
I also learned that Tolkien had a villain character named "Bill Stickers," which just makes this image more hilarious.
Something that I already knew, but which I keep forgetting so it blows my mind every time: the original manuscripts and proofs of The Hobbit and many of Tolkien's other works are RIGHT HERE IN MY CITY. This makes me wish I had stayed in grad school and become an archivist just so I could get a job there. (Not that I was studying to be an archivist, but I WOULD HAVE CHANGED MY FOCUS FOR THIS OKAY.)
(According to that website, the reason they live here (as opposed to in the Bodleian Library at Oxford with the rest of Tolkien's stuff) is simply because we asked first. Sweet.)
For yea, those who post spoilers shall be relegated to the 8th circle of Internet Hell. And those who do not read the spoiler policy shall languish in the Vestibule, until such time as they RTFM, verily.
what the hell is with that cover? Bilbo looks like some sort of sleazy Fat Cat or something.
I just read sleazy and cat, and thought that link was going somewhere else due to the sheer 70s-ness of the cover. OOPS.
I learned about the teaching your grandmother to suck eggs thing from John K making fun of Burl Ives:
[youtube cXSOD1N5lR4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXSOD1N5lR4 youtube]
Don't watch that. Also, I just realized how Gollumesque Ren is.
That book is hideous. I need it.
I… am actually NOT going to watch that because R&S gives me the creeps. 🙂 But I looked up the lyrics.
Hey, there's a reason why I said not to watch it! 😀
My brother has R&S on dvd, so I watched that episode fairly recently with him. I remember sitting there being like "OMG HOW DID THEY SHOW THIS IN THE DAYTIME ON NICK WHERE CHILDREN OMG WHAT WHAT I DON'T EVEN"
But I was still dying from laughter.
ISN'T IT AMAZING? I love 90s Nickelodeon. 😀
I watched Ren and Stimpy all the time as a kid. And Rocko's Modern Life and the Angry Beavers. I havent tried any of them as an adult but I have heard about all the innuendo. (And my mom didn't like us watching Friends cause it was "inappropriate" so there is my childhood for you)
Awwwww, I love that episode! <3 It's what I instantly think of when I read the part about teaching his grandmother to suck eggs!
~precious memories~ lol
OMG what the heck is that cover? I can't blame Tolkien for hating it, it's very…out of place, I guess. Especially with the weird balloon lettering. Strange.
I agree about it being Gollum's own fault for losing. Every time I read this part, I wonder: why on earth Gollum would accept Bilbo's question as a riddle? If he's that knowledgeable about riddles, I figured he would have noticed it doesn't follow a normal riddle, and would have insisted a new riddle be given.
That, that cover…
what. What. WHAT?
Hey, J.R.R. Tolkien making up the main mythology of Santa Claus definitely beats the Coca-Cola company doing it.
According to that website, the reason they live here (as opposed to in the Bodleian Library at Oxford with the rest of Tolkien's stuff) is simply because we asked first.
Bwhahaha. Nice. XD Oxford milks way too much from Lewis Carroll as it is, good on you.
OMG what is that cover? xD That's horrible! No wonder Tolkien hated it.
WHAT IS THAT COVER?! Are the letters made out of marshmallows?
KATE HARDING'S INTERNET HELL!!!
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Tbyyhz vf bar bs gur zbfg dhbgnoyr bs Gbyxvra’f punenpgref, juvpu vf xvaq bs jrveq jura lbh guvax nobhg vg… gung ebyr fubhyq ernyyl snyy gb fbzrbar ryfr. Ohg ab. Tbyyhz unf fbzr bs gur orfg yvarf, zbfg bs gurz pbafvfgvat bs “cerpvbhfffff…” nggnpurq gb fbzrguvat be bgure.
Rot-13'd your comment because vg vzcyvrf gung Tbyyhz fubjf hc yngre naq fnlf zber guvatf nobhg cerpvbhf.
You know, I was wondering vs vg'f orpbzvat cnvashyyl boivbhf gung Tbyyhz'f ebyr vf sne sebz bire, sebz gur jnl jr'er nyy pneelvat ba.
Oops. To quote Finding Nemo- "I am ashamed."
Hahaha, I love that guy. Shrimp. Whatever.
Definitely!
Ur'f nyfb fhpu na vagrerfgvat punenpgre, V pnaabg JNVG sbe Znex gb svaq bhg gur eryrinapr bs vg nyy…
Oh man, I am cackling away over here!
"it’s made even more frightening because Gandalf doesn’t catwalk into the cave being all fabulous and saving the day" HAHAH why am I imagining Ian Mckellen swishing into the cave wearing a Gilderoy Lockhart-esque pink robe and giant sunglasses, pouting at Gollum until he explodes.
That would be sad. I love Gollum, despite all his creepiness. I mean, there is definitely no judging here Mark. This chapter gave me nightmares as a child. I immediately set about memorising as many riddles as possible just in case this situation ever came up. You never know.
Ahaha, that mental image is glorious, thank you :D:D And yes, Gollum is such a great character right from the introduction. I adore the way he talks and how he has conversation with himself. I totally read all his lines in the actor's voice and it's really perfect.
This chapter is the Best Chapter of Anything Ever. Reading it again was just such a JOY, and there is nothing that is not perfect about it. It's a little strange to me, because I've been feeling critical of The Hobbit on this read through, since, in comparison to LOTR it seems so poorly thought out. (Which, ok, is still better thought out than most things, but I'm comparing it to my favorite book ever, so…)
But this chapter is just PERFECT AND AMAZING FOREVER.
Also this review, cause LOL Mark, you are adorable.
so so so glad i came back to mark reads for this one. Mark, so happy to see you're enjoying it because IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME AND IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE IT I WOULD PROBABLY CRY. THAT IS ALL.
OMG THANK YOU FOR RETURNING!!1
"Is he like those scary ass fish you find deep underwater that have like flashlights growing out of their head or those other creatures that look like creations of H.P. Lovecraft? This is how I am imagining him. Because the dude paddles a boat by dangling his feet over the side. I am never going to be okay with this in any universe WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS."
This kept me giggling to myself for a good five minutes. Hilarious pictures in my head. Gollum used to seriously creep me out. He still kind of does tbh.
Also, the fact that Mark is obviously loving The Hobbit makes me want to flail with happiness! 😀
Dude, how the fuck did I forget that the bit with Gollum was in Chapter 5? I totally thought it came way later in the book.
I honestly didn't expect anything like this so early into the book, if that's any consolation.
Isn't it a great chapter to end the week on?
No it's not because we have to wait the whole weekend for the next. *pouts*
Ah, look, caps lock! Wondering when this would occur, as it is always inevitable.
Mark, as a biologist, I can say that I'm 90% certain that Bilbo has some form of feces. There has to be something in all those second breakfasts that he can't digest, so its either our conventional way of getting rid of it or….I don't know, sweating it out?
Ah, the ring! I remember the ring! Or perhaps, a ring, since I note that the title of the next series is plural, whereas Bilbo has only one. I wonder; if you were given a choice between the invisibility cloak and an invisibility ring, what would you go for? The ring is more compact, easier to wear, and I guess you don't have to worry about tripping over it, or accidentally exposing yourself. On the other hand, the cloak doesn't show your shadow, and you can hide other people/creatures under there if they're small enough….
Also, for all I know, there's something about the ring that I don't know about, having forgotten pretty much everything else about this book, and not having read the next one. And this makes me hesitant to trust it.
(I believe some worms have a digestive tract that dead-ends so they eat food and then essentially vomit out the undigested remains through the same opening they eat from. Dunno if it would be called pooping in the sense we understand it, though.)
I really hope worms don't have taste buds.
DEFINITELY the cloak. I always leave my rings in my pockets or by sinks and then lose them forever
Yeah. Cloak forever and ever. After all, we just saw how easily Gollum lost his ring. A Cloak would be easier to keep track of.
LOTR SPOILERS:
Naq abg gb zragvba gur snpg gung guvf evat cbffrffrf lbh. QB ABG JNAG.
V XABBBBBBBBBBJ! Pna’g qrny jvgu zl crefbany cbffrffvbaf univat gurve bja ntraqnf, gelvat gb xvyy zr naq fhpu. Gur pybnx vf n zhpu fnsre pubvpr :Q
I know this thread is a week old but this is as far as I have read – I'm catching up on reviews and chapters!
You reminded me of a funny story. One day earlier this year, I left one of my rings (received as a birthday present in my early teens) by the kitchen sink in my place of work … and that afternoon The Entire Department received an e-mail from the Boss:
"Can whomever left their engagement ring in the kitchen on floor ## please collect it from my office."
As we had an 'event' that evening, I kept hearing snippets of conversation with people speculating who was engaged and who had been silly enough to lose their engagement ring etc. etc.
Ah, people and their assumptions.
Anyway, back to catching up!
“Mark, as a biologist, I can say that I’m 90% certain that Bilbo has some form of feces.”
I think that this comment might be the greatest comment I’ve ever read on Mark Consumes. At least in the top 10. I think what makes it truly fantastic is that you have cred and you leave room for error. Science is never wrong, except for when it hasn’t collected all the evidence yet.
Mark Consumes! Simpler than either Mark Reads & Watches OR Mark Does Stuff. Plus bonus imagery of Mark grabbing the relevant bit of media and going OM NOM NOM. MARK CONSUMES MEDIA FTW
Every time I read this chapter, I cry for poor Gollum.
Easily the most memorable chapter in the book for me (Gollum!), and for whatever reason my one defining memory of reading this book as a child was Bilbo sort of coughing out "time" to mean 'give me more time' but luckily the answer was in fact time "time."
I'm not even sure why it's the most vivid memory of this book for me, other than I remember thinking that was rather convenient (so maybe it was my first jump into having critical thoughts about fiction?).
But seriously, a riddle-off? Love, and you bet I tried to answer each one before reading on.
Bu, naq va gur zvqfg bs nyy guvf? Gbyxvra erirnyf gung Tbyyhz hfrq gb yvir nobirtebhaq. Va n ubyr. Ol n evire. JVGU UVF TENAQZBGURE. ubj ubj ubj ubj vf gung n guvat gung unccrarq. Ner gurer Znzn Tbyyhz naq Cncn Tbyyhz? JUNG VF GUVF GUVAT..
Teeeheeeheee. Oh Mark, darling Mark, you are so not prepared. 😀
Oh my god does this mean that Gollum is the lord of the ring?
"Gurer vf bayl bar Ybeq bs gur Evat. Bayl bar. Naq ur qbrf abg funer cbjre." 😉
I didn't even have to rot13 that to know what it said. Oh god, what has become of me?
Yep, me too.
Thanks to Mark Reads/Watches, we shall all become masters in rot13 coding soon, able to read and write it automatically! 😀
Likewise. XD
That's the exact quote I thought of! And I only had to rot13 to confirm it. 🙂
Tolkien’s writing really takes getting used to and sometimes the descriptions are so detailed that you almost forget what is going on in a chapter, but ‘Riddles in the dark’ is such a wonderful example of why, I guess, people love his books.
All these adjectives and repeated words would make many other books boring but here it creates a perfect atmosphere of urgency so that I actually felt like being chased while reading.
The whole chapter is so spooky with its descriptions of fish that never came back out of the caves and grew bigger eyes to see in them, of unknown monsters hiding in dark corners. I love this!
Just like in the last chapter, Tolkien can make you feel as if you’re actually there, this how show-not-tell works!
Gollum surprised me, I remembered him from this book, but not so early.
I never liked him much but Bilbo’s sudden understanding of him, his loneliness and his miserable life, made me actually feel a bit bad for him.
And aren’t those rules and the thought of honorable fights wonderful?
I mean, Gollum could have easily eaten Bilbo, but there are ancient rules about riddles that bind him to his promise. Bilbo could not kill Gollum either not just because he pitied him, but because Golloum was unarmed and could not see him.
I love this book and I can’t belive I waited so long to read it!
This is probably one of my favorite chapters of anything. I mean, even the name, Riddles in the Dark, isn't that pretty much just perfect? It sounds ominous, yet intriguing. Also, Gollum. I'm tempted to say Gollum has spawned more direct fanart than anything else Tolkien wrote, but that's something I completely made up just now because I, at least, have definitely seen more fanart of Gollum than anything else from these books.
This is one of my favorites, from the fantastic John Howe (cropped for spoilers, FYI, don't go looking for the original yet):
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/gollum2.jpg">
And someone was asking for a picture from the Rankin Bass movie:
<img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/kartikeya/gollum1.png">
I'm honestly surprised that there hasn't been a Japanese horror film/game called "Riddles in the Dark". It seriously has that vibe.
oh my god, he looks like a frog! or like Littlefoot from The Land Before Time.
That was my thought too! He totally looks like Littlefoot.
yeeeeeeeeeesssssssss! I love the Rankin Bass Gollum! He's like a murderous frog with ears
John Howe, my favourite artist, how I love thee. <3
He's also an amateur historical fencer (and pretty good one, judging from the behind-the-scene extras on the LOTR DVD) with pretty deep knowledge of historical armour and weaponry, which makes him doubly awesome! <3
Do you have his art book? It's fantastic.
No, I don't! 🙁
The third image from the top on the left is possibly my favorite Howe illustration, of Gandalf walking down the road. It's so simple, but so gorgeous.
YES. I am desperately searching for version of LotR with that image on the cover.
Me too! This one? A lot of the international versions have it too.
Holy crap, this was chapter five?? This is definitely one of the most memorable chapters in the book. Mark, meet Gollum. They hates you.
And so the Lord of the Rings fan was born…
Bu Fzrntby. Bu Fzrntby.
I think I may have to give this book a reread with you, Mark.
"But he takes the elvish blade he had stolen from one of the trolls earlier in the book, and he just sucks it up and decides to throw up a middle finger to the cave and just find a way out. He straight-up doesn’t give a fuck. Well, actually, he gives quite a few fucks because he’s a frightened little hobbit, but that’s Bilbo for you. He’s afraid and he keeps going anyway. Someone elect him as president immediately."
"Oh god, Bilbo is FULL OF EMPATHY. And so Bilbo decides not to kill Gollum, instead choosing to JUMP OVER HIM and escape from him that way, hearing Gollum’s shrieks of despair and hatred getting quieter and further away."
OK, and now you know why I'm the opposite of Gollum: "Baggins! I loves it forever!" I have been in love with hobbits for 45 years, and this is part of the reason why!
You know, it's actually false information that Hobbits have five (or six?) meals a day.
In fact, they only have one meal a day – they pretty much eat continuously all day and only take a break for sleeping. 😉
That's the proper life of a respectable Hobbit. *nods*
I yearn for such a life.
And smoking! I forgot the pipe-weed smoking!
Eating – sleeping – smoking. That's the holy trinity of a peaceful Hobbit existence.
Don't forget going to the pub and drinking! And some dancing. And Gandalf's fireworks. 😉
Also, talking about historical minutia. WANT THIS SO HARD.
And family trees!
I hate being human. Why am I not a hobbit?
What has I done to deserves not being a hobbits?
WHY DON'T I HAVE THIS LIFE
You can start with simple things – always keep some food/snacks on you and nibble on it all day long. Wear shorts (or that 3/4 type of trousers) and walk barefoot wherever you can. Smoke a pipe. 😉
Walk around with people much taller than you all the time, so you look tiny.
Bilbo's going to get his background music from Howard Shore, so it's all good. AND OMG, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT IT'LL BE FOR THIS SCENE IN PARTICULAR.
BECAUSE I AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU, MARK. I love riddles, and this chapter…!!!!! This chapter is so freaking amazing, and GOLLUM!!!! I LOVE GOLLUM, HE IS TOTALLY AWESOME IN THIS WARPED, TWISTED, FUCKED UP WAY!!!
And yeah, I am totally afraid of dark spaces like caves, especially if they have a Gollum lurking in them, so yeah, my ass would have been toast.
Nyfb: V shpxvat ybir Naql Frexvf sberire hagvy gur raq bs gvzr naq orlbaq. ORFG TBYYHZ RIRE VA GUR TBQQNZA JBEYQ, NAQ GUNG ZRNAF GUVF FPRAR VA GUR ZBIVR PNA'G OR NALGUVAT OHG NJRFBZR, SHPX LRF.
I love this chapter. It rules, the end. 🙂
Vs rire fbzrbar fubhyq trg n ergebnpgvir Bfpne, vg'f Frexvf. Zna jnf eboorq.
Bu Tbq, ur fb gbgnyyl jnf. Frexvf abg trggvat na Bfpne cvffrq zr gur shpx bss. V guvax V synvyrq va qvforyvrs naq natre. Bs nyy gur npgbef va YBGE, Naql Frexvf vf zl nofbyhgr snibevgr, naq gur snpg gung ur jnf eboorq yvxr gung…htu. Zrtn snvy. Ur cebonoyl jba'g, ohg V jvyy pebff zl svatref naq ubcr naljnl gung ur trgf bar guvf gvzr nebhaq. Ohg ntnva, V qbhog vg. *fvtu* V pna'g jnvg hagvy Znex jngpurf Gur Gjb Gbjref gubhtu. Cneg bs gur ernfba vg'f zl snibevgr zbivr bs gur gevybtl vf orpnhfr vg unf fb znal njrfbzr Tbyyhz fprarf va vg. Vg znxrf zl vaare npgvat urneg irel unccl. Naq urnira xabjf *V* jbhyq arire or noyr gb chyy Tbyyhz bss, fb V gvc zl ung gb Frexvf. *urnegf*
Bu lrnu, V pna'g jnvg rvgure! Gurer ner fb znal terng Tbyyhz fprarf va gur Gjb Gbjref zbivr. Lbh unir gb tvir n ybg bs cebcf gb Naql Frexvf sbe uvf cbegenlny bs gur jubyr Tbyyhz if. Fzrntby vagreany fgehttyr va GG. V pna'g jnvg gb frr uvf jbex va Gur Uboovg!!
I'm so excited to hear Howard Shore's score for The Hobbit!
V nofbyhgryl ybir rnpu fbhaqgenpx sbe YbgE – gurl'er gur bayl fbhaqgenpxf V'ir rire obhtug. Ur perngrq fb znal vpbavp gharf naq nqqrq fb zhpu crefbanyvgl, rzbgvba, naq n qvfgvapg ngzbfcurer gb gur zbivrf. N cresrpg zngpu, nybat jvgu fb znal gnyragrq crbcyr qrfvtavat naq ohvyqvat gur frgf naq pbfghzrf, naq gur jevgref, naq npgbef, naq bs pbhefr Crgre Wnpxfba, jub oebhtug rirelguvat gbtrgure fb jryy! fvtu.
OMG I LOVE THIS CHAPTER FUCK YES! <3
<img src="http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3307/008ptg.th.jpg" border="0"/>
<img src="http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/3741/009jyd.th.jpg" border="0"/>
Gollum! <3 I love Gollum. BECAUSE he is so deeply creepy and ew and do not want. I love the creepy shit in stories, okay? IT'S JUST <i>MY THING. So this chapter is right up my alley. I love the riddles, how tense it is, how scary it gets, everything it is and chooses to be. All hail this chapter!
All hail Bilbo too! Now you see why I love him, Mark. He's trapped in a dark tunnel, with goblins nearby, separated from his friends, far away from the comfy home he wants so desperately to be back in. He's alone and lost and scared. But he doesn't give up, he just pulls out that sword and keeps on going, and gets through this ordeal using his brains. I think this chapter really shows off what Gandalf saw in him to take him along on this journey: he's got some hidden badass lurking deep down inside and it's starting to emerge. <3
BASICALLY, PERFECT CHAPTER IS PERFECT. 😀
I love how Gandalf saw it before Bilbo even knew it was there. 😀
Oh yes, Bilbo Baggins for President! LYKNOW!! I am so ready for a government run by riddles and seed cakes for everyone. You've got my vote, Bilbo.
I love this chapter SO MUCH. Other than his ill-thought-out attempt to pick a troll's pocket, Bilbo doesn't really get to prove how much courage, ingenuity and sheer willpower he has until now. And no one's even around to see him – I have great respect for characters who prove their own agency and worth when they definitely can't be doing it to show off. He's alone, lost in the dark and confronted with a monster who wants to eat his face. Suddenly we get to see why Gandalf thought he was worth all the trouble of recruiting: even though he's scared, he has a survivor's spirit and doesn't lose his head in a crisis. (He's like Hermione to the dwarves' hotheaded Godrics! He's still a Gryffindor, but puts more value in common sense. Or a Ravenclaw, because of riddles. Shit. So in the Shire he thinks he's a Hufflepuff like all the other hobbits but he secretly harbors the bravery and intelligence of a Gryffinclaw, there we go. I've solved it! I'm going to stop now.)
I still know all the riddles by heart… And I always, always uhz gur "vg pnaabg or frra, pnaabg or sryg" bar.
Nyfb gurer'f guvf zbzrag va gur SbgE zbivr jura Tnaqnys vf yvxr, "Gur rarzl unf znal fcvrf… oveqf, ornfgf." Naq V pna'g uryc ohg xrrc tbvat, "gerrf, sybjref. Tanjf veba, ovgrf fgrry…"
Time for one of Hague's most iconic images, of Bilbo lost in the dark.
<img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/ravenclaw42/pic/0012x9e0">
<img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/ravenclaw42/pic/0012zz7z">
<img src="http://pics.livejournal.com/ravenclaw42/pic/00131c18">
Gur bayl vyyhfgengvbaf zber vpbavp ner gur barf bs Fznht. Va snpg, orgjrra Tbyyhz naq Fznht naq tvnag fcvqref V graq gb sbetrg gung vagreyhqrf yvxr gur rntyrf' rlevr naq Orbea'f ubhfr rire unccrarq, be gung gurer'f yvxr nabgure guveq bs gur obbx gb tb nsgre Fznht qvrf.
OH GOD THAT MIDDLE PIC
ALL THE NIGHTMARES :'(
I love how Bilbo doesn't look very scared, though, he's just wagging his finger authoritatively while Gollum cowers. It's like "NO EATING ME UNTIL YOU SOLVE YOUR RIDDLES, YOUNG MAN."
Creepy Gollum is creepy. It kind of looks like his eye is about to pop out of his head…
Oh man, Bilbo would totally spend his entire life assuming he was a Hufflepuff and then he'd get on Pottermore and take the official test and come up Gryffindor and a have major freak out because clearly the test is wrong, but actually, he just didn't know himself as well as he thought.
Bs pbhefr gurer'f zber obbx nsgre Fznht qvrf. Vg'f pnyyrq "Gurer naq Onpx Ntnva", abg whfg "Gurer" 🙂
Hahahahahaha oh this was so worth skipping my first class to read. Two things:
1. I am forever calling him Biblo now because of that typo, because it makes him sound like some crazy bible-carrying hobbit.
2. BECAUSE GOLLUM is now my answer to every stupid question.
Please don't use the word "crazy" on this site.
Ah, I'm sorry, that was a bad one! I apologize.
NO! MARK! YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ELECT CHARACTERS FOR PRESIDENT LIKE 90% OF THE TIME HAVE YOU NOT LEARNED YOUR LESSON YET?!?!?!!
I was thinking the same thing.
Mark, your entire review of this chapter is golden. This chapter remains my favourite chapter of the book. When I first read it, I was so impressed by Bilbo's riddle skills (the game of riddles comes from Norse mythology, by the way, though I'm sure that's not the ONLY mythology where you find it) that I looked up all the riddles I could find (in the days before the Internet) and learnt the answers to all of them in case I was ever in this situation.
Gollum is creepy as hell. His physical appearance is bad enough but what's even worse is him TALKING TO HIMSELF and the implication that once he lived above ground, so there might be MORE of him out there. :-X
Trivia: apparently this is the first scene Martin Freeman shot as Bilbo. When I heard this, I thought "Jesus, Peter Jackson, you didn't just drop him in the deep end, you DROP KICKED HIM in there!" But then I thought about how confused and isolated Bilbo feels in this chapter, a place where he's never been before, something weird and possibly dangerous crouching in front of him, he doesn't know what the hell he's doing. I'm sure Martin could sympathise with those feelings a bit. So Peter Jackson's a goddamn genius.
Martin Freeman doing Riddles in the Dark first? Oh man, Peter Jackson just has a gift. And so does Martin Freeman, managing to pull it off.
Ubj njrfbzr vf vg tbvat gb or gb urne Ovyob evqqyvat Fznht? Vg'f tbvat gb or jbaqreshy!
Oh, it's just a taste of what's to come!
V xabj! Rfcrpvnyyl tvira gur zna jub'f qbvat Fznht'f ibvpr… KQ
And yes, Martin Freeman is perfect.
Actually, I think that this scene being the first Martin ever shot for the Hobbit is a very wise decision on PJ's part. Just think about it: Here we have Bilbo, who is lost, alone, in the dark, confused, far from home, in a dangerous place, and meets this creepy weird creature who wants to eat him. This is just the perfect moment to start getting into the character, because the character is so out of his depth at this time. 🙂
That's eventually the conclusion I came to as well. 🙂
Best chapter ever, or best chapter ever? I'm only a chapter or two ahead, but I was riveted rereading this one, I have so much love for it. Mark, this is the best review ever and I laughed the entire time and you swore so much and there needs to be more reviews like this in my life. I hope this is has converted you SHIT JUST GETS REALER. I think this was the point-of-no-return chapter. OH GOD WHAT HAPPENS NEXT I CAN'T STAND IT.
Oh, Mark. Oh, this chapter. OH, THE UNPREPAREDNESS OF WHAT IS TO COME!
Oh Gollum! Best character EVER!!! Sure Gandalf and Bilbo are awesome, but Gollum, he has such depth!
And of course this was an amazing chapter! This was the chapter that hooked me for life as well! Riddles and rings and goblins oh my! I can't wait for more!
This is definitely where the book kicks off for me. The previous stuff was set-up in my eyes- it establishes the characters, gets you settled into the world, and kicks your feet under you a bit so you understand This Is Serious. Then this chapter just drops so much on you and is so tense and exciting! It threw me because there seemed to be such a SLOW set-up (because: VERBOSE), but in retrospect it's mostly just how the book is written. IMO, anyway.
It also tends to amaze me, because I am TERRIBLE at riddles, so seeing them be set out and solved is awesome.
I am filled with glee right now! I have to go re-read and catch up! I forgot how awesome this book is!!!!
This chapter was re-written by Tolkein later than the rest of the book. I think that's one reason it shines so much, because by that point he had had much more practise and was a better writer, and the chapter benefited. Absolutely everyone who reads this book remembers Riddles in the Dark, it just stands out in your mind. 😀
Oh my god. All I can think of is all the hilarious parody videos and little animations and Leonard Nimoy that Mark has in store for him. I AM SO HAPPY BY PROXY.
Mark. Just. Mark. Your unpreparedness is just adorable. You make me squeak like a hobbit child because you just have no idea of what's ahead.
My first experience with Tolkien was when I was ten years old and our teacher read the Hobbit to our class, a couple of pages a day. Now I have almost every book written by him, and a map of Middle-Earth on my wall. I could say it has been one of the three biggest cultural aspects of my life, along with Star Wars and Harry Potter.
Here's a riddle told by my grandfather:
Milk fell to the floor, won't go by wiping, by shaving nor by cat licking (it rhymes better in Finnish). What is this milk?
Answer in rot13: Fhafuvar
And I must say, this is a first time I'm actually following Mark every day and be able to post comments, I found the page (got the link from tvtropes) a year ago, but since I haven't yet read anything before Mark, I haven't been able to read posts because of spoilers. With the Hobbit I finally can, but I had to pluck up courage for a couple of days. During this time I've read about derailing and splaining and spoilers until I finally feel like being prepared enough to post anything.
Favorite chapter of the book. I've read the novel a few times, but every now and then I get busy and don't complete it, and this chapter is usually the last I read in those sequences. It's just my favorite thing about this story!
Gollum, you creepy little shit, I feel your pain!
Is it wrong that I hear that last sentence in AVPM Dumbledore's voice? 😀
Gollum is like the saddest/most complex character/creature ever. I love him! Also, this chapter is so awesome because it shows the readers how totally badass hobbits can be. Like "yeah, they might be small and chubby and scared, but they're also brave and self-sufficient and some are really really clever". I love how Tolkien always reminds us that even those who seem or feel small and insignificant can do great things.
Anyone else get Huffle Badger vibes from this review? No one? Just me, then? Moving along. 🙂
GOLLUM. Hell yeah, we’ve made it to Gollum and the riddle war! I’m TERRIBLE at riddles- both solving them and making them up- so I would definitely have become Gollum’s dinner in this situation.
V’ir nyjnlf ybirq gur pnfhny jnl Ovyob bognvaf gur Evat. Vg’f znqr gb frrz yvxr n zvabe qrgnvy; yvxr, bu, ol gur jnl, gurer jnf n evat ba gur tebhaq naq ur chg vg va uvf cbpxrg, ovt qrny, jul ner lbh rira pbaprearq jvgu guvf jura Ovyob vf va crevy naq ybfg va n qnex pnir? Rira jura vg’f pyrne ubj cerpvbhf vg vf gb Tbyyhz, gurer’f ab fhttrfgvba gung vg’f sbe nal ernfba bgure guna vgf cbjre bs vaivfvovyvgl. Gurer’f ab junpxvat lbh bire gur urnq jvgu vg be synfuvat fvtaf fnlvat “Guvf jvyy or vzcbegnag, cnl nggragvba gb vg!”
Anyway, this review is awesome. It should go into the review Hall of Fame and receive multiple review awards.
oh my god the way this son of a motherless bumblebee talks.
Biblo, that clever son of a llama,
Those made me laugh more than is probably rational.
V guvax gur fbzrjung vapbafcvphbhf jnl vg'f oebhtug vagb gur fgbel vf cneg bs jul V fbb pna'g jnvg gb frr Znex'f ernpgvba gb gung erirny.
I couldn't stop laughing at those two parts. "son of a motherless bumblebee…"
Zr gbb. V rkcrpg n ybg bs synvyvat naq xrlfznfuvat. 😉
Well, bevtvanyyl, jura Gbyxvra svefg jebgr gur Uboovg, vg jnf whfg n zntvp evat gung ghearq gur jrnere vaivfvoyr – vg jnfa'g gur Bar Evat gb Ehyr Gurz Nyy lrg. 🙂
Yay! Okay, so I definitely would have been dead at the first riddle. The only one I know the answer to was the eggs one, and that might just be from reading this book too many times. Maybe the fish one too?
Gollum is definitely super creepy here, living all alone in that pitch black lake… luring little fishies into his talons and throttling goblins when they chance by…
I am so so glad you loved this chapter; I was starting to worry you wouldn't like The Hobbit AT ALL, and that would have been awful, since it is honestly so glorious.
I remember that as a kid I always used to (after I'd read it the first couple of times) start from this chapter because it was so ETERNALLY CREEPY FOREVER. Love it so much, though, it's some beautiful and terrifying writing.
UGH… entire comment typed and disappeared into the internet…
Oh Gollum. Oh this chapter. OKAY beef time. It enrages me so end how Bilbo won. I mean it "What's in my pocket?" can probably be a riddle in some sense but in this one no. ESPECIALLY when they are talking about how freaking sacred this game is. And i KNOW that Bilbo didn't MEAN to ask it as a riddle (gung ur fnvq vg ng nyy ng gung cerpvfr zbzrag V nyjnlf gubhtug jnf whfg nabgure gevpx bs gur evat) but the fact that he let it slide just doesn't sit right with me.
And poor Gollum… at least he let him live…
NYFB whfg erzrzorevat ubj zhpu V QVFYVXR Ovyob. YVXR N YBG. Yvxr V qba'g guvax ur unf nal erqrrzvat dhnyvgvrf. Htu… naq abj V unir gb ernq na ragver obbx nobhg uvz. QVFYVXR.
Umm…that was an accident. I was just trying to subscribe to replies and somehow I posted a blank? Is there any way to delete it?
If you have an IntenseDebate account, you can delete it yourself (before anyone replies to you). I'm a mod so I can delete it for you.
Slight correction: with an account, anyone should be able to delete their own comments regardless of whether or not there are replies. It's the ability to edit one's comment that disappears once there are replies.
Oh, okay. **the more you know**
Zl zbz naq V serdhragyl fnl, "Jung'f gngref, cerpvbhf?" jurarire fur znxrf ure cbgngb fbhc. Hfhnyyl sbyybjrq ol, "CB-GNL-GBRF. Obvy 'rz, znfu 'rz, fgvpx 'rz va n fgrj."
This is the first portion of The Hobbit that I ever read, because it was in an anthology of stories(which had pieces of other books in it, like a chapter from Huck Finn, etc). I loved the riddles. Eventually I went on to read the whole book, and this was still one of my favorite chapters.
Fuck! I never comment here but I just stopped by and you've just read the goddamn Riddles chapter and GOD FUCKING DAMMIT YOU BET YOUR SWEET ASS THIS SHIT *IS* AWESOME. And guess what else, Mark? It gets better from here! I first read this when I was in high school. I loved reading things in secret places where I thought no one would find me and our high school's library was practically a goblin cave in itself since no one went in there (or at least in the stacks). There was one corner in the back out of sight behind the front desk where they kept all the magazines no one looked at and *that's* where I first read this chapter. The sun was streaming through the windows, making the air warm and stuffy but in my head everything was dark and scary. Motherfuck I love this book and I love Bilbo.
Great chapter. The riddling has stayed with me since childhood.
Tolkien is likely to have got the idea for the riddles from The Exeter Book – a collection of Anglo-Saxon riddles. Here's one of them:
Swings by his thigh
a thing most magical!
Below the belt
beneath the folds
Of his clothes it hangs
a hole in its front end,
stiff-set and stout
it swivels about.
Levelling the head
of this hanging tool,
its wielder hoists his hem
above his knee;
it is his will to fill
a well-known hole
that it fits fully
when at full length
He's oft filled it before.
Now he fills it again.
Answer (rot 13):
N xrl.
Wow, that is not what I was thinking the answer was…
ahahaha me neither
LOL – yup, the first few skeptical chapters have passed and wham, now you will not be able to put it down, Mark. This is the first time I get to read along in real time while you read a longtime favorite of mine, gah!!!
Know what willl make you feel better? Just imagine Edward Cullen falling into Gollum's clutches. Ahhh, soothing, isn't it?
I LOVE THIS CHAPTER. This chapter is honestly my favorite in the book, and I can-not-WAIT to see it brought to life on screen. Squee!
Gollum: So scary. You read my mind with the lamprey reference. I really started to hate Senna in K.A. Applegate's Everworld series when I got to the part where it's revealed that when she was younger she shapeshifted into Gollum and woke her sister April in the middle of the night to the sound of "What is it, My Precious?"
Behind in reading your reviews because I'm working so much lately…but Gollum scared the hell out of me as a kid. I remember seeing the animated LOTR when I was young and the way Gollum was portrayed in that freaked me out so much that when I had to go to the doctor, I would throw a tantrum if they put me in a room on the side of the building near the picture of Bilbo from that movie. That scared. And although I love the LOTR trilogy for multiple reasons, I would tense up so much during Gollum scenes that I'd leave the theater with a stiff neck and sore back. Dude is freaky!
All I can say about Gollum is:
just.
fucking.
wait.
I still find it so weird that you know nothing about this series. I mean, your reaction to Gollum is insane. It's so hard for me to remember that you have no idea what he looks like!
I think this has to be the chapter everyone remembers best from The Hobbit, and not only orpnhfr vg'f gur bayl ovg gung'f ernyyl eryrinag gb gur frdhry. [spoiler for LOTR]
That’s right, I’m the last person on planet Earth to read The Hobbit and I’m stating that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote it specifically for me. DEAL WITH IT.
No it makes perfect sense, you're the Chosen One and that's how it works with Chosen Ones. There's a prophecy or something.
Oh my god does this mean that Gollum is the lord of the ring? GET IT DO YOU GET IT oh god I’m pretty sure I’m the millionth person ever to make that joke.
Wow, I've actually never heard anyone make that joke before… maybe because it is SO NOT FUNNY you are not prepared :p (well… I'm typing this after you read the first few chapters of LOTR:TFOR so you might be a little bit prepared at that)